Day 3:

When Tatsumi awoke that morning, Mother was already gone and the cave felt empty and cold. It may have only been two days, but he had formed a bond with Mother and it hurt to not even be able to say goodbye, he was going to miss her soothing voices that had lulled him to sleep. It saddened him that this was the second time he wouldn't have a mother. At first he had waited, hoping that maybe she might come into the cave and tell him she was staying. But there was no such luck, even after a few hours of waiting she didn't come back. Right now, he hadn't even taken a look at his new appearance in the reflection of the pool of water. But with his new hatched body, basic bodily functions were no longer being dealt with by the nutrients he sustained from the egg.

Walking over to the pool of water, he took a breath before looking into its surface. His body was silver and was still small in comparison to Mother, round beady eyes, and tiny baby-looking wings that grew from his back. If anything, he looked more cute than terrifying, he was a Dragon right? Shouldn't he be meaner looking. The Tyrant was downright terrifying to look at. Now he looked more like one of Mine's stuffed bears than anything. How was he suppose to become some big regal dragon if he was this damn cute!

Shoving his face into the water, no longer wanting to look at the cute reflection he began taking mouthful after mouthful of water before retreating. He wasn't just thirsty, he was hungry. He recalled that Mother said that the Black Worms would suffice as a food substitute until he was strong enough to hunt.

"Something to let out my frustration on, I'll get those damn worms to fear me!" He declared punching a closed fist into an open palm as he marched away from the pool to the back of the cave. Seeing no worms about he rose his tail and smacked it atop of the ground, the earth shifted before the first one made its appearance. Compared to when he was an egg, he was bigger than them now, not by much but the difference in height was appreciated. But he knew one thing, the Black Worms were weaker than him now. As an egg he had to be wary of cracking his shell, not anymore. Rearing back with his clenched fist he threw it at the Dragon crashing it down with what strength he could.

[Skill Ability Learned (Dragon Punch Lv - 1) acquired]

Tatsumi grinned to himself, now he had a decent attack. Wait didn't he get more skills when he hatched? Recalling the skills he smiled lightly, somehow he had the Tyrant's natural abilities still. Deciding to test them he activated [Tyrant's Invisibility] and as he suspected it cloaked him in a shroud of clear air. However it was clear it would be straining the longer it went for, he'd need to train just as he had done with Incursio. Releasing the [Tyrant's Invisibility] he sighed, feeling sweat gather on his brow.

[Tyrant's Invisibility] Skill leveled up to Lv - 2.

There was no doubt that the [Tyrant's Invisibility] would come in handy, especially in his first venture from the cave. But, deciding his hunger was more important right now he looked down at the worm, grimacing slightly. Mother said it would sustain him until he got strong enough to leave the cave, but still it didn't look appetizing at all. Despite the look, hunger outweighed in favor and Tatsumi quickly devoured the Black Worm. Just as expected it didn't taste great, but just one of them made him feel energised. If it was the normal food for a newborn then it would have everything needed for a good growth. After he had eaten, he decided to test out the abilities he had gotten since he had hatched.

Having already tested out invisibility and acquired [Dragon Punch], he figured he'd work on the other ones he had gained. If he was going to venture from the cave soon he wanted to know what he was capable of. Taking a deep breath he made his footing solid before letting out the breath. Tatsumi didn't know what he had been expecting, but it was more than just the little heat he had managed to produce. His [Baby Breath] might make a room feel uncomfortably warm, or perhaps warm up some water, but in a fight? He didn't think it'd come in useful.

"The skill didn't level up from that?" Tatsumi questioned, curious, every time he had used one of his skills for the first time it had gone up a Level. "Maybe I actually have to use it on something to gain experience with it? Though that wouldn't explain why [Tyrant's Invisibility] went up by a level." Tapping his chin with a claw in thought as he tried to figure out the answer. "Maybe passive and aggressive skills work differently? Mother didn't have time to tell me all the basics, I'm lucky enough to know what she did tell me if what she said about hatchlings are true."

Despite not even having done much, the small effort it took to take on the worms had drained Tatsumi of most of his Stamina, he figured it was because he had activated his skills as well. Being a newborn put it into perspective of just how much he was limited to in his current body. Trudging heavily over to where mother had watched over him as an egg he curled up and before he knew it, he was fast asleep.

Day 4:

This time Tatsumi didn't waste any time. He quickly had a Black Worm for breakfast before making his way to the entrance of the cave. This would be the first time that he saw the outside world since being reborn. Rather than his original plan to use his invisibility to leave the cave, he would save it incase he needed to return and not want to be tracked back in an emergency. If he used it straight away it might drain him of his energy, which at his current state he needed as much as he could get. He'd need to train and get stronger if he was to survive.

Carefully he poked his head out of the cave, it was a massive hole in the side of the mountain considering it had fit Mother in, and she was enormous compared to him. Surrounding was a lushess green pasture and he could tell that the altitude was high. Clouds were off in the distance almost at eye level. Feeling the grass beneath his paws he took in a deep breath of the freshness in the air. He couldn't help but let the smile come over his face as he enjoyed the pleasant scenery.

The pasture was large, probably larger than the small village he had grown up in. And looking up he saw that the peak of the mountain the cave was located in was still a long ways up. Seeing a path that led down he hurried over to it, with one last look back at the cave, he headed down the path. The path led down the mountainside and into the surrounding forest.

Tatsumi was watchful of his surroundings, making sure that there was nothing looming in the shadows. He didn't want to stray to far from the cave on his first outing, not until he had a better idea of his surroundings and he had grown stronger. He crept along, making sure to take caution, always looking back to see how far away the mountain was. Today he was just going to get a feel of his new surroundings, then he'd work up to hunting for better food. He doubted that the Black Worms could sustain him for long. Plus they were gross looking, the less he had to eat them the better.

Ducking between tree's he found that nature was abundant here, the wild life was brimming with life all around him from birds to small furry critters. None he could name, showing that these creatures were not from the same place he knew when he had been Tatsumi the Assassin and not Tatsumi the Dragon.

As he came to the edge of a clearing he paused, checking once more how far away the mountain was, he was some ways away and should be heading back. His legs were already aching and he felt drained. That's when he heard it, the echoing recurring thuds. It took some concentration to singal in, but he managed. He crouched down on a rock and peered across the clearing.

Several large burly men were cutting down trees on the other side of the clearing, some were taking a break while the others worked and one Tatsumi noted was keeping his eye on the sky, almost as if he was looking out for something. Of course he would be, they probably noticed Mother flying around lately and were keeping a watch.

His new dragon senses were able to pick up their talking but he didn't understand what they were saying, and he recalled what he had gained when he had evolved from the egg.

[Dragon Language acquired Level - MAX]

Meaning he didn't have the ability to interact with humans, because he was no longer human. It was a sorrowful moment, to know that he was no longer human. Of course he knew he was a dragon now, but to think he was so far from a human that he couldn't even understand basic language, reality was just starting to set in. To them he was a Dragon, some kind of monster. Probably what he himself would call a Danger Beast back when he was human. If his evolution continued and he turned into the Tyrant eventually, how did that make him any better than the Danger Beasts that he once hunted? Feeling down, he turned and left the clearing, heading back up the mountain.

It may come that one day, humans would hunt him down. What was he supposed to do then?

It took most of the afternoon to return and when he entered the pasture just outside of the cave he sat on the edge and looked out over the forest below. He hadn't done this when he had first ventured out of the cave that morning, but now he regretted not doing so. From his vantage point, he had an almost aerial like view of the forest below.

He could see the clearing where he had caught sight of the humans cutting down trees, and from there a track leading through the forest to a small village only possessing a few small houses and a large church like structure surrounded by a wooden fence. Had he not caught sight of the humans and continued passed the clearing he might have ended up in some trouble if any of the human's had caught sight of him. He would still have to be wary, there might be hunters out there looking for game. Right now he needed to stay far away from humans.

Finally feeling peckish he returned to the cave, ready to devour a worm or too for dinner and call it a night.

Day 5:

Tatsumi should have known better due to his prior experience, but here he was running for his life. Just a few days old into this new reincarnation and he was already close to death's door. He may have been a Dragon, but right now he was basically a defenceless lizard. He had made the decision to head in the opposite direction of the small village he had seen, which led deeper into the forest surrounding the mountain his cave was atop of. However, this only led into the dangerous parts of the forest were monsters were abundant and he was fresh meat on the menu.

Ducking underneath a log he slid across the ground on his stomach, his back feet coming to a halt on the side of the tree stump before he launched forward from it back the way he had come in a roll. His momentum increased and the wolf chasing him barely had time to skid to a stop at the approaching ball of fury. Tatsumi took the advantage and stopped mid roll flying towards the wolf with his body already in full swing. His tail stiffened outward as he used his [Tail Slap], his tail struck against the wolf as he felt his small tail leave a sickening crunch in the wolf's side as ribs were broken.

[Tail Slap] Skill leveled up to Lv - 5

[Roll] Skill leveled up to Lv - 7

The wolf let out a yelp of pain and collapsed to its side, whimpering while coughing up blood from the internal damage. Tatsumi noted that it's fur was almost like steel but still his [Tail Slap] had been effective against it, maybe he was stronger than he originally thought.

"No, don't get a big head. Your still bottom of the food chain." Tatsumi reminded himself as he looked around, hoping nothing would be waiting in the shadows. He had been running back to the foot of the mountain, and it looked like the wolf had chased him back from the dangerous territory. Looking down at the wolf he sighed, knowing what had to be done. Quickly he broke the wolf's neck ending it's life.

[Level Increase] Tatsumi was slightly stunned at the sudden popup. [Formerly Level 1 Baby Dragon increase to Level 6 Baby Dragon.] He had gone up a few levels after just defeating the wolf? What did Mother say again? Once you reached Level 100 you had the option to evolve? He realised now after venturing off into the forest, he needed to be stronger. If that meant evolving he needed to get to Level 100 as soon as possible. Looking down at the wolf a slight frown covering his new dragon features. Which means going on the offensive.

"I need to get stronger to survive, that's what Mother said." Tatsumi maneuvered the wolf's body onto his back as he began to trek back up the mountain. "To get stronger I have to kill." Training didn't seem like a viable option here, whatever these levels were didn't react to it, as this was the first time his levels had increased well his aggressive skills anyway, since he was an egg. He had taken on the worms but they didn't give him any level ups. He still didn't know how this world worked, but to get stronger he had to kill.

"It's the only way." He sighed trudging up the cliff that led to his cave. This would be the first time since becoming a Dragon that he would eat something else other than the black worms in the back of the cave. He was honestly looking forward to it, the little bastards didn't even taste good cooked with his [Dragon Breath] here was hoping the wolf tasted better.